Rejoinder: CAN Replies Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) through its Secretariat had a press conference on January 16, 2018 in which they called the attention of the Federal Government to the current situation in the country in which the Fulani Herdsmen are going about killing innocent people with impunity and the lopsided appointments in the Security and Education sectors by President Muhammadu Buhari. The press conference was read by the General Secretary of the Association Rev. Dr. Musa Asake. Immediately after the Press conference, Garba Shehu who is the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity released a press statement in which he accused me that in my press statement “I could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations.” While his accusation was going round, the JNI had a press conference in Kaduna on January 21, 2018, in which they accused CAN of using Herdsmen to Destabilize Nigeria. This development becomes very necessary for me to respond to the two accusations to put the record straight so that Nigerians should not be misled into believing those hypocritical statements.

CAN Press Conference: Miyetti Allah Should Be Prosecuted For Genocide

ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, (CAN) REV. DR. MUSA ASAKE HELD AT THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE, ABUJA ON TUESDAY, 16THJANUARY, 2018

Gentlemen of the Press,

On behalf of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the entire Christian Community here in Nigeria, I welcome you to this press conference in the precious and wonderful name of Our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Since this is our first meeting this year, permit me to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and wishing you a productive and prosperous 2018.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is compelled once again, to draw the attention of the Buhari Administration to the non-aligned status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in international conflicts. We have had cause to express great apprehension when in December 2015, President Buhari, without giving consideration to Section 10 of the Constitution, as well as to the sensitivity of Christians that constitute over 50% of the Nigerian population, led Nigeria to join the Saudi Arabia initiated Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

Impunity of Fulani Herdsmen a Downfall of Buhari’s Govt – CEDRA

Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy, CEDRA, has observed with concern the impunity of Fulani herdsmen in parts of the country as a sign of a ‘letdown’ by the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, under President Muhammadu Buhari and his security goons.

“A horizontal and vertical perusal of opinion of pundits holds that the Federal Government of Nigeria can nip in the bud this menace,” CEDRA believes.

Timeline of Fulani Herdsmen Attacks on Benue State From 2013 – 2018 Updated

1. February 2013:Fulani Attacked Agatu burning several villages, including Inoli, Ologba, olegeje, olegogboche, olegede, Adana, Inminy and Abugbe communities. 186 lives lost to butchery and gunshots. GEJ sent MOPOL to control the situation but they failed. Another attack followed in Agatu in the month of May 2013.

Foremost rights activist in Northern region and founder Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA), Dr. John Danfulani, has decried the insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari to the killings in Southern Kaduna, as well as his lack of courage to tackle Governor Nasir el-Rufai over his constitutional breach on the issue.

The Divisive, Unpatriotic, Strife-Inducive Rhetorics Of The Sultan Of Sokoto

Our attention is drawn to the statement credited to his Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, President Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on the alleged harassment of Muslims adorning Hijab. We call upon the government of Sokoto, under whose authority the Sultan is, the Federal Government that has the responsibility for national security to call the Sultan to order. We equally call on the Diplomatic Community, International and Civil Society Organizations and advocates of social harmony, peace and security to know the direction to look and who to hold responsible, in case of any upsurge in violence or unrest. This is against the backdrop of past experiences with sectarian crises in the North, Boko Haram insurgency and Herdsmen terrorism. They were accentuated by this kind of unpatriotic, divisive and strife-inducive rhetoric to which the Sultan of Sokoto has been given in recent times. The Nigerian people are called upon to be mindful of the implications of such rhetoric.

PLATEAU STATE: “G-17” calls for ban on Open Grazing

The Speaker gave the assurance when youths from the 17 local government areas of the State yesterday submitted a Bill to the State Assembly seeking a ban on open grazing in the State.

Youths of Plateau State, under the aegis of “Plateau Youths G17 Peace and Progressives Forum,” have presented a bill seeking a ban on open grazing in Plateau State. They believed that the ban on open grazing will curb the incessant killings as well as herders/farmers clashes bedeviling the State.

The Real Story Behind the Numan Herdsmen Attack

The Attack by Fulani herdsmen yesterday was a reprisal attack to what happened last two weeks in Shafaron Village of Numan Adamawa State. Last week information came to the people about the incoming of several Fulani and foreigners into the state and believed to have been camped around Mayo Belwa.

It was with a rude shock and utter dismay we read the depressing news on November 10th. 2017 of the "Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) blasting the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and leaders including General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, and about one thousand (1000) other Christian elders and leaders for calling on the Nigerian government to exit all international Islamic organisations."

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